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WILKES-BARRE – When Crestwood goalie Julia Filchak snagged Brigid Wood’s shot in the final second of regulation Thursday to preserve a tie score, the Coughlin Crusaders were left to wonder what was next.

In the post-game discussion, some seemed to remember that there may have been an overtime game on the road a couple of years ago. But, even so, rules change and that was regular season, so ultimately things could be different for the District 2 girls lacrosse quarterfinals.

While coach Colleen Wood confirmed the format with officials, the players wondered about their next move.

Minutes after learning what they needed to do, the third-seeded Crusaders went out and did it, using a Kyra Wozniak goal less than a minute into sudden-death play to fight off an upset bid by visiting Crestwood and advance to Tuesday’s semifinals with a 12-11 victory.

“We were unsure what we had to do,” Wozniak said. “Once we heard, we wanted to get the ball right from the draw.”

They did, but before the Crusaders could come out on top against the sixth-seeded Comets, they first had to escape trouble, just like in regulation.

Crestwood had opened a 4-1 lead in the first 11 minutes on two of Paige Zaleppa’s three first-half and four total goals. The Comets were in front 6-4 after Hannah Ackers scored the first of her three second-half goals just 12 seconds after intermission.

With the next score ending the season for someone, Crestwood gained possession and advanced the ball into the offensive end, approaching the arc on the left side.

“I was scared,” said Kristi Pearage, who scored a game-high six goals. “ … Losing would mean we were done.”

That’s when Brigid Wood started the 14-second string of events that kept Coughlin’s season and title hopes alive.

Wood swiped the ball off a Crestwood stick and turned to head up field. As she tried to work out of her own end, Wood drew a hit that sent Ackers to the sideline on a yellow card for a dangerous check.

With a one-player advantage on the restart, Wood found Wozniak moving forward and hit her with a pass.

Wozniak did the rest, racing up the right-center of the field, cutting through defenders and firing in the game-ending shot with 2:06 still left in the first three-minute, sudden-death period.

“I kind of saw a lane and just a couple girls in front of me,” Wozniak said.

By turning one clutch defensive play into a transition and a successful shot on the other end, Coughlin finally managed what a surge in each half was unable to do – stop Crestwood.

After the Comets had taken their three-goal lead, Pearage had her first three goals in a 6:07 span.

Pearage followed up the Zaleppa goal that gave Crestwood a 4-1 lead by starting the comeback just 24 seconds later. She personally outscored the Comets, 3-1, the rest of the half to make it a one-goal game at the break.

Coughlin had an even stronger response to the quick strike by Ackers to open the second half.

The Crusaders got off 10 of the game’s next 11 shots and scored five straight goals, two by Pearage and one each by three teammates, for a 9-6 lead.

Crestwood fought back to force ties at 9, 10 and 11 and force overtime.

“Our minds were just all over,” Pearage said. “We haven’t had a game like this all season.”

Wood gave Coughlin its last lead of regulation with 1:24 left, but Ackers scored for Crestwood 15 seconds later.

Filchak made two of her nine second-half saves in the last 37 seconds.

Wozniak made sure Coughlin extended its season into Tuesday’s semifinals at second-seeded Lake-Lehman, the Wyoming Valley Conference Division 2 champion which edged Scranton Prep in overtime.

Lake-Lehman 10,

Scranton Prep 9 (OT)

Alicia Galasso scored six goals and the Black Knights needed every one of them to fend off pesky Prep in an extra period.

The game was tight throughout, as Lehman held a 5-4 advantage at halftime.

Jess Evans and Kate Roberts both finished with a goal and two assists for Lehman, which will face Coughlin in a semifinal game Tuesday.

Delaware Valley 16,

Dallas 1

Kirsten Dunn, Maecy Chlebowski and Bailey Fedun all scored three goals as No. 4 Delaware Valley dispatched Dallas in a District 2 quarterfinal game.

The Warriors took a commanding 7-0 halftime lead and out-scored Dallas by eight goals in the second half. Mindy Ratchford scored the lone goal for the Mountaineers. Keely Patton made eight saves in goal in defeat.

Wyoming Seminary 18,

Wyoming Area 1

The top-seeded Blue Knights won big in their district quarterfinal against the No. 8 Warriors.

Seminary will host Delaware Valley in Tuesday’s semifinals.

District 2 quarterfinals

Coughlin 12, Crestwood 11

Crestwood`5`6`0`–`11

Coughlin`4`7`1`–`12

SCORING – CR, Paige Zaleppa (4 goals), Hannah Ackers (3 goals), Natasha Koslop (2 goals, 1 assist), Sam Brumagin (1 goal, 1 assist), Taylor Tomalinis (1 goal, 1 assist), Katie Coslett (assist), Jaclyn Cavanaugh (assist). COU, Kristi Pearage (6 goals), Brigid Wood (3 goals, 1 assist), Kyra Wozniak (2 goals), Savanna Robinson (goal), April Llewellyn (assist). Shots – CR 18, COU 32. Saves – CR 12 (Julia Filchak), CO 6 (Sara Price).

Coughlin’s Mykala Slavish (34) and Crestwood’s Natasha Koslop (46) reach for the ball in Thursday’s district lacrosse quarterfinals in Wilkes-Barre.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_girlslax01.jpg.optimal.jpgCoughlin’s Mykala Slavish (34) and Crestwood’s Natasha Koslop (46) reach for the ball in Thursday’s district lacrosse quarterfinals in Wilkes-Barre. Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader

Coughlin’s Amy Llewellyn (13) and Crestwood’s Paige Zaleppa (24) chase down the ball in Thursday’s game in Wilkes-Barre.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_girlslax02.jpg.optimal.jpgCoughlin’s Amy Llewellyn (13) and Crestwood’s Paige Zaleppa (24) chase down the ball in Thursday’s game in Wilkes-Barre. Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader

Coughlin’s Mykala Slavish (34) tries to corral the ball as Crestwood’s Raegan Distasio (27) closes in during Thursday’s District 2 lacrosse game in Wilkes-Barre.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_girlslax03.jpg.optimal.jpgCoughlin’s Mykala Slavish (34) tries to corral the ball as Crestwood’s Raegan Distasio (27) closes in during Thursday’s District 2 lacrosse game in Wilkes-Barre. Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader

Coughlin goalie Sara Price (far left) deflects a shot by Crestwood’s Paige Zaleppa (24) in Thursday’s District 2 lacrosse game in Wilkes-Barre.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_girlslax04.jpg.optimal.jpgCoughlin goalie Sara Price (far left) deflects a shot by Crestwood’s Paige Zaleppa (24) in Thursday’s District 2 lacrosse game in Wilkes-Barre. Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader
Wozniak’s goal downs Crestwood in sudden death

By Tom Robinson

For Times Leader

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